WFM October 2009

families on the move: check out our october calendar of events

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WichitaFamily.com l OCTOBER 2009

Via Christi Senior Services:

SERVING THE SANDwich generation Helping the area’s elderly and lightening the load for those caring for them

A CLOSER LOOK...

...at the city of Bel Aire.

Inside: FALL FUN AT BECK’s FARM ORCHARD MAZE

Preparing For The Future Y

ou just turned 70, but you feel like you’re 50. In fact, you just went in for your annual physical and received a clean bill of health.

Your neighbor, on the other hand, isn’t so lucky. She just suffered her third heart attack and has to move to a nursing home because she can no longer take care of herself. You can’t imagine having to leave your home, and hope you never have to. Recent studies, however, show that 40 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need nursing home care at some point in their lives.

The longer you live, the more likely you are to require care in a nursing home, and your stay won’t be cheap.

The average nursing home charges approximately $45,000 a year per resident, and in some areas, the cost is even higher. Regular medical insurance does not cover nursing home care, and Medicare provides only 20 days of full coverage and 80 days of partial

www.WichitaFamily.com

By Tresa Erickson

coverage. Home care is an alternative option, but again, the cost is high.

Bringing in a home health aide just three times a week can cost up to $1,000 per month and additional care, like physical therapy, increases the cost.

The cost of long-term care can be astronomical, but there is something you can do to ease the financial burden.

Many insurers now offer long-term care insurance (LTCI) for individuals between the ages of 40 and 84 who might need long-term care in the future. If you have assets over $75,000 and you can afford the monthly premiums without radically changing your lifestyle, you may want to consider purchasing an LTCI policy.

In exchange for your premiums, LTCI contributes a daily amount toward your long-term care needs. The type of care covered and the setting in which that care can be provided, however, varies from policy to policy.

Most long-term care policies cover skilled, intermediate and custodial care. Skilled care is usually ordered by a physician for the treatment of a specific medical condition and is provided 24 hours a day by trained medical professionals.

Intermediate care is supervised by a physician and provided as needed by medical professionals. Custodial care helps patients with everyday activities, such as bathing and dressing, and is typically provided by people without medical training.

As long as the nursing home is licensed, most LTCI policies cover all skilled, intermediate and custodial care provided there. Some, however, extend coverage to care provided in a setting outside of a licensed nursing home, such as the home, adult day care center or hospice or respite facilities. Because the settings in which such care can be provided varies from policy to policy, it is best to shop around for a policy

Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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that suits your needs. For example, if you only need custodial care, and you can get that at home, then you should purchase a policy that will provide that type of coverage. If you’re healthy and do not need any care, you may want to find a policy that will cover care in a variety of settings.

Most policies do not cover care outside of the United States or for certain conditions, such as alcoholism and drug abuse. Some also have restrictions on pre-existing conditions. Check with your insurer to see what your policy does and does not cover.

To receive the benefits of a long-term care insurance policy, you must demonstrate a need for it. Typically there are three ways in which this can occur: You can no longer do a number of daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, etc.

You are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or some other cognitive mental impairment.

Your doctor has ordered long-term care medically necessary Once you demonstrate a need for longterm care, your insurer will start helping with the costs, easing your financial burden.

With the costs of medical care rising each year, there is no time better than the present to start preparing for longterm care. Although your health may be fine now, that may not be the case later.

The longer you wait to purchase an LCTI policy, the higher premiums you’ll pay.

Once you purchase a policy, however, your rates will never increase unless your insurer raises the premiums for an entire class of policyholders. For example, if you purchased the policy when you were 65, you’ll pay the same rate as a 65-year-old purchasing a new policy.

So start looking now and purchase a policy that will provide the type of coverage you’re looking for. n

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www.WichitaFamily.com

FAMILIE S ON TH E MOVE : CHECK

Family

OUT OU R OCTO BER CA LENDAR OF EVEN TS

WICH ITA

contents WichitaFamily.com

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Via Chr isti Sen ior Service s:

OCTOBER 2009

SERVIN G SANDW THE GENER ICH ATION Helping the

area’s eld and ligh erl ten those car ing the loa y d for ing for them

A CLOSE R LO of Bel Air OK... e.

...at the city

The ORCHARD MAZE

INSIDE FALL FU : N BECK’S AT ORCHAR FARM D MAZE

Wichita Family’s Elizabeth Barker embarks on a day trip to Beck’s Farm

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News from our partners at Wichita Public Schools

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BRACING FOR BRACES

Students share recycling initiative with First Lady

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Tips for helping teenagers cope with wearing braces

A CLOSER LOOK AT...

...the city of Bel Aire

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SERVING THE SANDWICH GENERATION

Via Christi Senior Services is here to help the area’s elderly and lighten the load for the family members caring for them.

l COVER PICTURE COURTESY OF CAMERA ANGLES, LTD www.WichitaFamily.com

Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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Publisher:

For the Families, LLC 316.295.8465 Editor Eric Clark Contributing Writers: Jessica Lindsey Elizabeth Barker Tresa Erickson Don Saunders Advertising inquiries contact: Vice President of Sales & Marketing Elizabeth Barker 316.204.8575 ebarker@wichitafamily.com Sales Representative Directories and Special Features Sara Doppler 316.755.3799 sara@wichitafamily.com Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by For the Families, LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, visit www.wichitafamily.com.

editor’s letter There’s something about the Fall weather that just brings out the little kid in me (and I think in all of us!) My family and I have been taking in the wonderful weather (scratching our heads at times; wondering if we’re really in Kansas). Over the past month and half, Christy and I have dedicated our efforts to bringing some additional fun to our seemingly ordinary outdoor landscape. Jay Lewis, at Backyard Specialists (you might have noticed all of the bright colors and playground equipment behind the east side Sam’s Club off of K-96, that’s where you’ll find Jay), helped us figure out the right playground equipment for our two little daredevils. The folks at Backyard Specialists had our playground delivered in about a week and assembled the day it arrived. Needless to say, it’s been a huge hit. It’s amazing how many nieces and nephews suddenly have a new reason to visit Uncle Eric and Aunt Christy!

In another effort to bring fun to our home, we decided to tackle another project this Fall--building a playhouse. Despite a few hitches during our construction (and nearly losing my thumb), I’m proud to say that our kiddos now have a place to call their own. Thinking we were pretty ingenious parents, we strategically put the playground and playhouse a good distance from each other to maximize our chances of tiring out the munchkins; guess what, no luck. It seems they have more energy now than ever - seriously, they don’t hibernate, do they?

We hope you enjoy this month’s WF! Enjoy the Fall.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 817 Wichita, Kansas 67201 How to reach us: Phone: 316.295.8465 Email: publisher@wichitafamily.com Copyright 2009 by For the Families, LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them!

We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of For the Families, LLC.

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Eric Clark Owner/Publisher For the Families, LLC publisher@wichitafamily.com

www.WichitaFamily.com

Ending Domestic Violence : Wonderful You

"Domestic violence causes far more pain than the visible marks of bruises and scars. It is devastating to be abused by someone that you love and thinks loves you in return." Those are the words of California Senator Diane Feinstein.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with The National Institute of Justice roughly one in four women has been a victim of domestic violence. The physical is bad enough and as Senator Feinstein pointed out the fact that it is being perpetrated by someone claiming to love you makes it even more painful.

But there is another source of hurt that in many instances takes longer to recover from than the physical violence or the reality of who did it. It's the fact that you have been made to feel as a human being that you have no self worth.

One of the key components of abusive relationships is to constantly blame the victims for whatever befalls them.

You would not have woken up in the emergency room of the local hospital if only you had gotten dinner ready on time or ran that errand when they told you to.

When you make it back home the abusive partner hopes this serves as a lesson. Even if they never put their hands on you again (doubtful), the message is clear: they rule the kingdom and you are there to serve them. Not only that but it is their birthright to deal with you anyway they see fit.

From then on you walk in constant fear and extreme self doubt. Once the abuser gets you into this position, it becomes all about control. Their power increases while your opinion of yourself accelerates downward. It only gets worse when you factor in that they know what buttons to push because they know so much about you.

So when you finally end the relationship there is a lot of rebuilding that needs to be done. One place to start is to understand what you went thru and accept the reality that you are a survivor. www.WichitaFamily.com

That means you have an untold reservoir of inner strength.

The other thing is that no matter how much they belittled you all they did was tell you a river so as to cover up their own glaring weaknesses. With all their "power" they tried to take away your dignity. They failed miserably. The courage you showed as well as the love you gave to them which they obviously didn't deserve illustrates perfectly that trying to take away your self worth was a fool's errand.

One final and extremely important point to remember is that you are loved. Not in that twisted way your abuser said they loved you. It always came with a chain attached to it. They love you so that's why they did what they did. Or they would love you even more if only you would stop forcing them to hurt you.

No this is the real deal love. The kind that your children have for you as well as your family and friends. It also includes that network of support from spouses who have gone thru the same thing. And the one person who above all others always loved and believed in you no matter what happened. You. Because in spite of it all, the unvarnished truth is the abusive partner could never live up to you so they did everything they could to drag you down to their level. It would have been easier for them to move the Rocky Mountains by hand. No one was ever going to take away wonderful you.

Article written by Daryl Campbell at The Relationship Tip. Get the nine step formula for surviving an abusive relationship .

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Does your partner ... criticize you and make you feel you’re at fault? ... control where you go and who you talk to? ... hurt or threaten you, or pressure you to have sex? If you answered YES to ANY of these questions, your health and safety may be in danger.

1 in 4

Women experience Domestic Violence Break the Cycle!

Harbor House 24-hour Crisis Line

(316) 263-6000 1-866-899-5522 (toll free) TTY (316)263-8347 catholiccharitieswichita.org Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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A JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WICHITA, INC EVENT 6th Annual Holiday Galleria: A Day of Shopping, A Year of Giving

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unior League of Wichita, Inc. (JLW), a non-profit organization of over 700 women, will hold its sixthannual Holiday Galleria: A Day of Shopping, A Year of Giving,

October 8-11 at Century II Expo Hall. The upscale shopping event, which features over 100 regional and national merchants, is a fundraiser to support JLW’s mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities.

Approximately 250 JLW members volunteer their time to plan and work at Holiday Galleria. From delicious food to serious shopping to the best giveaways in town, you’ll find FUN at the 2009 Holiday Galleria! Shop for a cause, but stay for the fun!

General Admission shopping and complimentary gift wrap are available Friday, October 9, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Sunday, October 11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kick off the weekend with JLW’s Holiday Galleria Premier Party “’Twas the Night Before,” Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m. -10 p.m. Enjoy complimentary valet parking and delicious food and drink from some of Wichita’s favorite restaurants, as well as live music from Wichita band, Blue Eyed Soul, and several one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items.

Friday, October 9, 5-9 p.m. it’s “Girls’ Night Out!” Join B98’s Tracy Cassidy for music and drawings for fabulous prizes throughout the night and margaritas and samples from JLW cookbook recipes while they last.

Saturday, October 10, 11 a.m., you don’t want to miss the exclusive Community Catwalk Brunch & Runway Fashion Show. Ticket holders will enjoy complimentary valet parking, a delicious brunch, mimosas, goodie bags, chances for fabulous giveaways and a runway fashion show featuring local boutiques, emceed by The Wichita Eagle’s Bonnie Bing.

Saturday and Sunday will feature a full schedule of entertainment on our main stage, including a cooking demonstration

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Saturday at 2:30 p.m. showcasing recipes from JLW cookbooks with KAKE TV’s Susan Peters and JLW President Jamie Schmaltz. Sunday bring the family for complimentary pictures with Santa

and special children’s entertainment.

Visit www.holidaygalleria.org for more information.

Shop for the holidays.

Shop for yourself.

Find it at

Junior League of Wichita, Inc.’s 6th Annual upscale shopping event featuring over 100 regional and national merchants at Century II. GENER AL ADMISSION — $8 Friday, October 9 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 10 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday, October 11 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS Premier Party — $50 Thursday, October 8, 7-10 p.m.

Girls’ Night Out Friday, October 9, 5-9 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door

Bring the family Sunday, October 11 to enjoy pictures with Santa and children’s entertainment!

Community Catwalk Brunch & Runway Fashion Show — $40 Saturday, October 10, 11 a.m.

Gen. Admission, Girls’ Night Out Tickets: www.wichitatix.com, 316.219.4tix

Premier Party, Community Catwalk Tickets: www.holidaygalleria.org, 316.682.7473

www.holidaygalleria.org

www.WichitaFamily.com

A day at Beck’s Farm and the Orchard Maze

by Elizabeth Barker

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his Fall I wanted to do something a little different with my kids, something we hadn’t done before but something that was definitely “Fallish.” Corn Maze. Done.

Pumpkin patch. Done. Haunted House – not done but I opted out of this one just because my daughter spooks easily, well, honestly, so do I. I tried to come up with something new. Orchard Maze? Hmm, never done it before. Didn’t know what to expect. So, one afternoon late in September, I grabbed my daughter’s friend, Lora, picked up my daughter from volleyball practice and drove to Sedgwick. Heard there was an orchard maze there and thought we’d check it out.

(7th graders) are game for anything (and I’m already trying to figure out what all I can get them to do next). Once we got there and talked with the owner, Sarah Beck, the girls found the starting point and headed out. This maze was different than the others I’d been to. I could see the kids the entire time. If they had been little, I wouldn’t have had to worry about them at all – I could see every wrong turn they made (yes, they did make a few) and watch every time they stumbled (yes, they did that, too, but I’m not supposed to say that so you didn’t hear it from me). Once they made it through, they turned around and went through backwards. Laughing the whole time. From my vantage point sitting on the bails of hay (nice touch, I could sit and watch) I had to smile.

First, let me tell you, these two girls

When they finished, we walked over to

www.WichitaFamily.com

the produce stand and grabbed a couple of caramel apples to eat on the drive home (no one made a mess in the car - whew!). I grabbed a few fresh vegetables for dinner and we debated going to the pumpkin patch Sarah has. We passed simply because it had been raining all day but it looks fabulous.

If you’re looking for something fun to do this fall, add the peach orchard maze to your list. It’s great for younger kids AND their parents.

My girls gave it two thumbs up. For directions to Beck’s Farm, call 282BECK or go to Becksfarm.com. I promise, Sarah and her crew will take great care of your family or group. We’ll go back.

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ITтАЩS PUMPKIN PATCH TIME 0ICK YOUR PUMPKINS OFF THE VINE

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10 Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009 Klausmeyer Dairy - 2x2NNN.indd 1

www.WichitaFamily.com 9/21/09 1:29:16 PM

Wichita Public Schools— Expecting and Delivering Excellence

Pleasant Valley students can Run for Something Better

News and information from our partners at USD 259

Increased student achievement and preparation of young people for success in a diverse world are over-arching priorities for the Wichita students Public Schools.

Twelve named

National Merit semifinalists Our district features:

The National Merit Scholarship Program of haschoice named twelve • Schools semifinalists. Eleven of those students attend East High School, one attends • Rich diversity North High School.

• Student connectedness The 2010 National Merit Semifinalists • Quality are Johnteachers Camenzind, Divya Chivukula, Laura Combs, Antonia Davidson, Ruth • Top academic honors in KS Ebersole, Katherine LaVoie, Jonathan Lewallen, Kimenvironment Truong, Jack Welch, • Safe school Nivanthika Wimalasena and Sara Yun, East School,facilities and Adam • New and High renovated Cameron, North High School.

• Business partnerships Students become National Merit • Education Foundation semifinalistsEDGE by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) during their junior year and scoring in the top one-half of 1 percent in the state.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring.

For more information contact us by phone at 316-973-4515 or visit us online: “Touch the turf” celebrates www.usd259.com

first bond projects

Thousands of students, parents and community members came to help celebrate the all-weather turf fields at Heights, Northwest and South High Schools, the first projects complete with the Wichita Public Schools’ $370 million bond issue. As part of the fall sports kickoff and team scrimmages at the schools, the new turf fields were christened as students, parents and community members were invited to walk and play on the new athletic www.WichitaFamily.com

surfaces on August 28.

Installation of all-weather turf at Southeast and East High Schools was completed in mid-September. Allweather turf fields at North and West and the two new high schools will be installed at a later date.

The first school to receive bond issue improvements is Seltzer Elementary.

Construction will begin in October.

Students share recycling initiative with First Lady

Eight high school students are taking the lead in starting a district-wide recycling program in their schools. Their efforts caught the attention of Stacy Parkinson, First Lady of Kansas. The students met with First Lady Parkinson to talk about the recycling program and the district’s service-learning initiatives.

This year, the schools will focus on recycling plastic bottles.

The recycling program is completely student-driven. The eight students meet with other student leaders in their own schools to implement their plans, educate their classmates and to plan how to incorporate the project into their curriculum.

The schools plan to have a kick-off event for the district-wide program later in the school year. First Lady Parkinson said she would like to come to Wichita and be involved in the event and to help promote the project.

Pleasant Valley Elementary received a $2,000 grant to help students combat childhood obesity. The ING Run For Something Better program helps teach the benefits of running through P.E. classes. The Run For Something Better program, in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), offers an eight-week running program for fifth-grade students who sign up. At Pleasant Valley, at the conclusion of their running program, the students will run in the Turkey Trot marathon in November.

Pleasant Valley Elementary was one of 50 schools across the country to receive the grant.

Schools celebrate grandparents

Many schools across the district welcomed students’ grandparents into their schools to celebrate Grandparents Day. Grandmothers and grandfathers spent time with their grandchildren to eat lunch, play during recess, work on projects or read books. The schools said they were very pleased with the large number of grandparents who came to visit.

Many grandparents came from out of town for the events. At Black Traditional Magnet, grandparents came from as far away as Texas and Colorado to join the fun.

The schools say it is a great way to get grandparents involved with their grandchild’s education. Many grandparents said they felt so welcomed they will come back to the school to volunteer throughout the year.

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Serving the Sandwich Generation Via Christi Senior Services is here to help the area’s elderly and lighten the load for the family members caring for them.

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ometimes it feels like you're caught between so many responsibilities that you're sandwiched in and can't catch a break.

Many people feel like they're being tugged one direction after another and it is sometimes difficult to find a balance between it all.

The Sandwich Generation refers to the generation of people who are caring for their parents—whether it be running errands, handling yard and home maintenance, driving them to appointments, managing finances, etc.—while also supporting their children or grandchildren on one level or another.

The group is a growing generation that is facing an increased number of challenges when it comes to managing their own home and work life while also serving as a caregiver for their parents.

That's where Via Christi Senior Services comes into play.

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There are 12 senior living communities operated by Via Christi Senior Services that over 1,500 residents call home.

The facilities employ over 1,400 people and offer a variety of senior living options to meet the needs of the resident. Specialties include everything from independent living and assisted living to skilled, Medicare- and Medicaid-certified health care.

There are seven communities in Wichita while the others are located in Ponca City, Okla., Pittsburg, Kan., Hays, Kan., Victoria, Kan. and Manhattan, Kan. In addition, Via Christi HOPE is the first PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) site in the state of Kansas.

Via Christi HOPE currently serves more than 180 seniors.

Less stress, more quality time Priscilla Yeakley’s mother, Silvia Ross, moved in with Priscilla and her family when her father died. The family was more than willing to care for Silvia, but over the course of four years it began

by Jessica Lindsey

Photo by Camera Angles, Ltd.

to take a toll on everyone involved, especially Priscilla.

Silvia has Alzheimer’s Disease. Caring for her mother night and day wore Priscilla down, who also had children at home.

“My children, who were both in high school at the time, basically didn’t have a mom because I was constantly taking care of my mom,” recalls Priscilla. “I just love my mom, I’m so close to her. But I was trying to do everything for everyone.”

A friend told Priscilla about the adult daycare services at Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, right down the road from where the Yeakleys live. Silvia started attending the services to give Priscilla a chance to have some down time.

Eventually, however, it got to a point where Silvia was not sleeping, she would wander the house, causing Priscilla and her family to worry about her constantly.

Silvia moved into the Catholic Care www.WichitaFamily.com www.WichitaFamily.com

Center, the largest continuing care retirement community in South Central Kansas, in June. Located at 6700 East 45th Street in Bel Aire, the community offers a country setting on a lake with walking paths. There are 178 skilled, Medicare-certified health care beds, 60 assisted living apartments and a state of the art 4-room Memory Care Residence. A new addition to the Catholic Care Center is Shepherd’s Crossing an independent living community on the campus.

“It’s more relaxed around our house now,” says Priscilla. “I’m not all tense, there’s more peace. I am blessed to have a wonderful, loving husband and wonderful kids. It didn’t hurt us to have her here for four years, but now that I am more relaxed I am able to have more quality time with her.”

A comfortable home right down the street When Mary Elms and her husband, Richard, were considering moving to Wichita from Dodge City they needed to find a place of their own but also were looking to find a new home for her father and stepmother, Gerald and Rita Klenke.

Mary and her husband had just retired and were moving to Wichita, in part, because their daughter and her family live here.

The Elms soon found a place in west Wichita and they quickly found the perfect place to move her parents.

“We were just driving one day and saw the sign out on Ridge Road that said Cornerstone so we drove in and looked around,” recalls Mary. “My parents were Catholic and it was Via Christi so right away that sparked our interest.”

The Elms brought her parents to Wichita to check out Via Christi’s Cornerstone Ridge Plaza, located at 3636 N. Ridge Road. They had looked at other places, but none were seriously considered.

“It was just the perfect fit,” says Mary.

“It fit all of the needs that my parents had and it was only a two or three minute drive from our house.”

The facility is located near the intersection of Ridge Road and K-96 in northwest Wichita. It is situated on a www.WichitaFamily.com

lake and in addition to being near the Elms’ home, it is convenient to offices, dining and shopping with a country feel.

Jim had been living in his own home until this summer when his health made it no longer safe for him to remain there.

There are 60 apartments at Cornerstone Ridge Plaza with six different floor plans to choose from.

Each of the apartments is close to activities, dining and fireside areas as well as a Sports Club, chapel and Garden Activity area.

Jim, with the help of his daughters, Pamela Ammar and Lisa Nolla, moved into Riverside Village, 777 N. McLean Blvd. The community offers 42 duplex units for independent living, 54 assisted living apartments and 36 private rooms for health care.

Elms said her parents needed someone to fix their meals and clean their apartment. The staff also assists in giving medication and monitors the couple while keeping in close contact with the Elms.

Riverside Village also has a chapel, meeting room, life enrichment events, ice cream parlor, and dining rooms.

“We feel very comfortable with them being there,” says Mary. “One day my father fell and they called me right away.”

Finding a comfortable place for her parents has allowed Elms the time to relax and enjoy retirement. The couple spends time with their grandkids and often heads to Texas during the cooler months of the year.

“Even when we’re down there,” says Mary. “They contact me and let me know exactly what’s going on if they have any question or problem.”

Perfect timing, perfect fit Wichita resident Jim Clancy’s quick deterioration into stages of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease quickly overwhelmed his daughters, prompting them to look into additional care for their father.

It was important to Jim to be at a place where he could attend mass, and have a room where he could bring his artwork collection and feel like home.

With Jim in a home where he was being cared for, Pamela and Lisa could relax.

“My sister and I were going to need assisted living if we couldn’t get him moved in somewhere where he could have help,” jokes Pamela. “It was like a 24-7 job.”

Pamela has a flexible job but it was still difficult to manage everything her father needed around his house and for his health.

“It’s kind of like having a brand new baby, but the baby can talk and has a house and a car and has needs like a child such as laundry and meals and grocery shopping,” says Pamela.

Now without the home maintenance and constantly worrying where her father was going, Pamela and her sister are able to relax and enjoy their Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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father once again.

Building back the confidence After Florine Johnson broke her hip, she was hesitant to go back to living on her own.

Florine and her daughter and sonin-law, Linda and Carlos Mayans, discussed her situation with health professionals. Soon after Florine and her family members began visiting different facilities around Wichita.

Florine decided that she liked the atmosphere at Cornerstone Ridge Plaza and she moved in soon after.

“It was like an awakening for her, a shock to her system after the fall,” said Carlos. “She had been living independently all this time with us assisting her with the grocery store and maintenance and those kind of things.

She didn’t want to go back there even with home services and have the fear of falling again.”

Florine is building back her strength and her confidence and Carlos and Linda are appreciating knowing that she is receiving nutritious meals and that her medications are being given to her on schedule.

Carlos visits the facility nearly every day, he likes the numerous activities that Florine can participate in if she chooses, and the friendly people he meets each time he goes.

“From our point of view we have less stress,” says Carlos. “From her point of view she is getting much better care than when she was providing it herself.”

Finding hope With a long list of medications and little strength to do much more than eat, Rachel Jones needed daily assistance.

Her husband, Wayne, and daughter, Ann Herman, provided everything they could but after a short time Ann knew she needed to find help.

“I was desperate to find help,” says Ann. “My father has been there for her 24/7 from the beginning, he is currently 82 years old. I had to work

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and we needed help.”

Ann found Via Christi HOPE, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), 2622 W. Central. The program is designed to promote social and medical services in the community to allow older adults the opportunity to remain safely in the community for as long as possible.

Some of the services included in HOPE are home health care, personal care, homemaker services, primary medical care, therapy, nutrition, transportation, prescription medications and more.

“I do need to allot my time carefully between parents, children and grandchildren,” says Ann. “When you add the working hours to this, there is not much time left for me to care for my home, car, etc. I thank God every day for HOPE. Our daily living is more manageable and blessed with the help of HOPE.” Outstanding communities In addition to the distinctive communities mentioned in personal stories above, Via Christi has two more amazing places for seniors to call home in Wichita.

At Cornerstone Broadmoor, 1240 N. Broadmoor, in northeast Wichita 40 assisted living residents enjoy a chapel, fireplace living room and dining areas in a comfortable atmosphere. An extensive activity program that includes line dancing, tai chi, a walking club, a senior exercise agenda, arts and crafts, planned outings, cooking classes, volunteer programs, library club, even bowling tournaments, keeping residents entertained and active. There is also a Bible study group and prayer group that meet weekly.

Georgetown Village, 1655 Georgetown, is one of Wichita’s premier retirement communities.

Independence, security, peace of mind and pride help create a unique atmosphere for the residents of the 130 independent living apartments, 17 condominiums and 68 assisted living apartments. Georgetown Village is currently celebrating its 24th year in operation. n www.WichitaFamily.com

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Perfectly planned reunion + perfectly calm planner

1 result found: Wichita, Kansas.

While the kids splash at the Rock River Rapids water park, the adults can stroll through the themed gardens at Botanica; or take everyone to hear the Diamond W Wranglers’ Chuckwagon Supper serenades.

Wichita has the unique mix of attractions to make everyone happy at your next family reunion. All at Midwestern prices. Go Wichita will help find the hotel and the source for customized T-shirts and banners.

For a free family reunion planner checklist, contact Adrienn Massaglia, amassaglia@gowichita.com or 316.265.2800.

WICHITA

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The city you’ve been searching for. gowichita.com

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Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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a closer look at...

the city of Bel Aire The City of the Future with Respect for Its Past

T

he City of Bel Aire is a thriving community located in the northeastern part of the Wichita metropolitan area. With a population of about 6,700, Bel Aire mixes all the benefits of small-town living with the advantages of a large urban area. Easy access to Kansas’ best shopping, local businesses, restaurants, medical facilities, sporting events, and entertainment give residents’ unparalleled choices. The small-town atmosphere makes Bel Aire ideal for raising a family or enjoying the golden years. Bel Aire residents have the opportunity to live the life they always wanted. Whether it’s a night on the town or a backyard barbeque, Bel Aire offers the best of both worlds.

There are plenty of things to do year-round in Bel Aire. Each season is celebrated with a special event as part of the Four Seasons in Bel Aire program. This year, the spring Easter Egg Hunt and the summer Music and Moonlight concert event were huge successes. The Fall Festival on Oct. 10 and the Holiday Open House on Dec. 6 will round out the year. By far the biggest event each year is the Bel Aire Day Fall Festival.

Started as a family-friendly event to bring the community together, Bel Aire Day has been a fall tradition

16 Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

for over 25 years. The 2009 edition takes the event to new levels, adding the inaugural Chevy Bel Air Car show and campfire storytelling. Old favorites like Money in the Straw, Bingo, and children’s activities will be joined with live music, arts and crafts vendors and barrel train rides to create the perfect fall day. The Bel Aire Day Fall Festival is open to all starting at 12:00 pm on

October 10 at Bel Aire City Hall.

There are lots of opportunities for seniors in Bel Aire. Two active senior organizations offering a wide variety of activities. The Bel Aire Senior Center, located in Bel Aire City Hall, offers adults 55 years and older educational seminars, exercise classes, field trips, Nintendo Wii competitions and wide variety of social

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and education activities. The Bel Aire Senior Club meets at the old City Hall building and provides socialization opportunities, education classes, dances, health check-ups and field trips around the area. For those in need of more direct care, the Catholic Care Center offers state-of-the-art assisted living residences are located in heart of Bel Aire.

Bel Aire is one of the ideal spots to raise a family in the Wichita area. The city’s primarily served by Wichita school district USD 259. Bel Aire was the selected site for a new K-8 school slated to open in the fall of 2011 and new high school opening fall of 2012. Bel Aire is also home to two premier private schools, Sunrise Christian Academy and Resurrection Catholic School. Bel Aire’s Recreation Department offers classes and sports leagues throughout the year. Families can enjoy any of the five city-owned parks or swim at the Central Park Pool.

Bel Aire has its own police force and one of the lowest crime rates in the Wichita area.

Businesses can also find a home in Bel Aire. The Bel Aire Area Chamber of Commerce offers local businesses networking and educational opportunities with meetings and guest speakers. With over 80 businesses in the City limits and hundreds more within minutes, Bel Aire residents can find everything they need right at their. doorstep.

Bel Aire residents enjoy all the amenities of a metropolitan area with easy-going lifestyle of a small town.

Join us at the Bel Aire Day Fall Festival on October 10th at Bel Aire City Hall and find out what everyone’s talking about. All our resident’s agree, Bel Aire is the best of both worlds.

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Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

17

Enter for a chance to win ICE AGE: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

18 Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

www.WichitaFamily.com

wichita families

on the move...

OCTOBER

Calendar of Events Friends University Jazz Ensembles Concert

Oct. 2. 7:30 p.m. http://www.friends.edu/finearts Friends University-Sebits Auditorium, Riney Fine Arts Center, 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita. 316-295-5537. Admission: $8 adults, $5 seniors (60+) & students A wide variety of classic big band music will be performed, and will feature many wonderful soloists from the jazz program.

Come hear the new Sebits jazz scholarship winners, plus all your favorite returning students.

Harvest of Progress: Education Day

Oct. 2. 9 am-3 pm. http://www. oldcowtown.org. Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd., Wichita. 316-219-1871 Bring in the harvest and put up provisions for winter as the entire community celebrates.

Craftsmen from throughout the area converge at Old Cowtown Museum and join in recreating the excitement of a 19th century county fair. Each year hundreds of school children crowd the streets of Old Cowtown to experience the sights and sounds of an old fashioned county fair. Children can play schoolyard games, observe crafts like rope and sopa making and learn about lifestyles of Wichitans in the 1870s. School groups wishing to participate should contact Sheri Gaskins for more information.

Art-Must Have It- We’ve Got It: The 7th Annual Fine Art, Decorative Art, Auction and Arcade Sale

Oct. 3. 7 p.m.- 10 p.m. www.wcfta.com The Wichita Center for the Arts, 9112 E. Central, Wichita. 316-634-2787. Admission: $20 at the door. Mark your calendars!

Get original works of art, decorative items, furniture, and much more at the Art-Must

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Have It-We’ve Got It: The 7th Annual Fine Art, Decorative Art, Auction and Arcade Sale. Enjoy appetizers and cocktails during the silent auction and at 8:30 p.m. the party moves into the Irene Vickers Baker Theatre for an exciting live auction of artworks. The auction has something for everyone and includes paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints, drawings and photography by local and national artists. The featured artist for this exciting event is Kansas City Artist, Marlin Rotach. His work “All By Myself” will be in the live auction. Remember to bid often and early. Come by The Wichita Center for the Arts starting September 18, 2009 to view the art work in advance. The gallery is open from 1 - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and admission is free.

Exploring the Solar System Oct. 2 - Oct. 3. 7:30 pm to 10 pm www.wichita.edu/lapo. Lake Afton Public Observatory, 25000 W. 39th South, Goddard. 316-978-3191. Admission: $3 for children 6 to 12; $4 persons 13 & up Join us as we celebrate the anniversaries of significant milestones in the unmanned exploration of our solar system. We will be viewing our Moon, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune as we discuss the wondrous discoveries made by unmanned probes over the last 50 years.

Grace Fest 2009

Oct. 3. 6 pm. http://www.wichitaorpheum. com. The Orpheum, 200 N. Broadway, Wichita. 316-755-7328. Admission: $10/$20. A benefit concert for “His Helping Hands” - Featuring Christopher Cody & Praise Nation, 4Grace, 3 Year Flame and Emily Judson Band.

OktoberFest 2009

Oct. 3. 6:30 p.m. - Midnight. http://www. exploration.org. Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita. 316-660-0600 Admission: $25 per person. In the true spirit of this traditional fall event, put on your lederhosen and head to EP! With your ticket, enjoy brat and sauerkraut, pretzel with all the dippings, polka and rock music, plus much more!

Rockin’ the Roundhouse

Oct. 3. 6 pm. http://www.goshockers.com Location: Charles Koch Arena, Wichita State

University, 1845 N. Fairmount St., Wichita.

316-978-FANS. Admission: $100 Rockin’ the Roundhouse, the premier fundraising event of the WSU Alumni Association and WSU Athletics. There will food, drinks and entertainment along with silent and live auctions. Funds raised from the event help support Wichita State students, alumni and student-athletes.

Woofstock 2009

Oct. 3. 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. http://www. kshumane.org. Sedgwick County Park, 6300 W. 13th St., Wichita. 316-524-9196.

Admission: $4 donation. Celebrate peace, love and pets and help the Kansas Humane Society at Woofstock 2009. There’s tons of fun all day long like groovy pet contests, cool dog demos, live bands, a hip silent auction and our Paws and Play area just for pets and kids. Admission is just a $4 donation - but don’t let the bark stop there! Be the leader of your pack by collecting $35 or more in donations and you’ll become a Woofstock Best in Show Donor, plus be eligible to win lots of prizes! Collecting donations is fun and you’ll also win lots of grr-eat prizes for you and your pet. Every dollar goes to providing care and comfort to over 18,000 homeless Wichita pets this year.

Harvest of Progress: A County Fair

Oct. 3 - Oct. 4. Sat 9 am-4:30 pm, Sun Noon-4:30 pm. http://www.oldcowtown. org. Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd., Wichita. 316-219-1871 Admission: Adults, $7.75, Senior Citizens, $6.50, Youth, $6. Bring in the harvest and put up provisions for winter as the entire community celebrates. Craftsmen from throughout the area converge at Old Cowtown Museum and join in re-creating the excitement of a 19th century county fair.

Old Town Farmer’s Market (Saturday Only) May 9, - Oct. 10. 7 am-Noon http://www.oldtownfarmersmarket.com.

Farm & Art Market Plaza, 1st & Mosley, Wichita. 316-992-0413 Admission: Free admission Fresh produce-live entertainment-delicious food-chef demos-children’s activities and hand-made crafts.

Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

19

Lord’s Acre Benefit Auction & BBQ

Saturday, October 10. Goddard United Methodist Church. BBQ & Silent Auction begin at 4:30 p.m. Dinner Prices: Adults $7, Kids 5 & under $4. Live Auction begins at 5 p.m. Auctioneer: Don Burford. All proceeds assist with community outreach efforts. 3rd & Elm, Goddard, 794-2207.

Witch’s Night Out Evening Sale & Costume Party at Country Bumpkins Oct. 22, 6pm to 9pm. Bring your pumpkin for carving contest. All Fall items 50% off. 3543 E Douglas, 316 612 2512.

Fantasies and Fairy-Tales: Maxfield Parrish and the Art of the Print

Aug. 2 - Oct. 11. Tue- Sat 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sun Noon- 5 p.m. http://www.wichitaartmuseum.org. Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd.

Wichita. 316-268-4921. Admission: Adult $5, Senior $4, Youth (5-17) $2, Children under 5 Free (free admission on Sat). If the unexamined life is not worth living, Patrick Duegaw has nothing to worry about.” - Alice Thorson: Art in America, October 2007.

The Big Read - “Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe”

Oct. 3 - Nov. 22.http://www. bigreadwichita.org. Varous locations-Wichita.

316-261-8500 Kickoff Oct. 3rd 2:00 p.m. at the Wichita Art Museum; Poe in Person: David Keltz, Nov. 7th 7:30 p.m. at the Central Library; Poe in Context: A Lecture by Dr. Stuart Levine Nov. 22nd 2:30 p.m. at the Central Library. For additional events call or visit website.

How to Make a Monster, The Art and Technology of Animatronics

Oct. 3 - Jan. 3. Call or visit website http://www.exploration.org. Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita.

316-660-0600. Admission: Included with museum admission, free for members. Film buffs beware: your curiosity about how movie monsters are made will be quenched as you investigate behind-the-scenes visual effects that are used to make these creepy creatures.

Such techniques as sculpting, fur blending and the design/installation of animatronic components will make you want to create your own creature feature!

20 Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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Helping Teenagers To Cope With Wearing Braces If your teenager is anything like mine then you will probably think that the world has come to an end if it ever comes time for her to wear braces on her teeth. But, since we all want our children to have that perfect white smile as they enter adulthood if at all possible, this is one hurdle which many of us have to learn to jump.

Fortunately the world of braces has changed dramatically since I wore them myself as a child and the days of that horrible mess of metal in your mouth is thankfully long gone. Today there are all sorts of alternatives open to your teenager, many of which include clear bands and brackets which are hardly visible. Indeed, you can even get 'invisible' braces nowadays which are plastic inserts that fit over the child's teeth.

Gone too in many cases is the need for painful adjustments to the braces on a regular basis, with the dentist simply replacing the braces every six or eight weeks.

The starting point however is to get your teenager to focus attention on the long term benefits of wearing braces which is

a challenge in itself since most teenagers are concerned about today and not next month or next year. They will see braces as ruining their life, rather than correcting a problem which they might find will ruin their life when they get a little bit older and start dating or set their heart on a job which requires them to have a nice smile. You job therefore is to make them focus on the longer term and get them to visualize themselves in a few years time with a smile like that of their current television or magazine idol. This means that magazines and television are a good place to start when it comes to convincing your teenager of the benefit of wearing braces.

Another fear which you may need to overcome is that of braces being painful to wear or causing pain when they are adjusted or changed. Here you can do two things. First, enlist the help of your dentist or of your teenager's friends who are already wearing braces and, second, schedule appointments at the end of the school day so that, if there is any discomfort, you teenager will be able to relax at home rather than having to sit in class in discomfort.

by Don Saunders

If you child is musical and plays a woodwind instrument or is actively involved in sport they may also be concerned about the affect of wearing braces. Indeed, some braces could actually interfere with their performance.

In this case simply talk to your orthodontist as this is a problem which they will be very familiar with and for which they have many different solutions available.

Finally, do not forget that teenagers are an ingenious group and they too have ways of coping with many of the trials and tribulations of teenage life.

In Thailand for example multi-colored braces are now very much a fashion item and many children who do not need braces are begging their parents to let them wear them because all their friends are doing so.

Getting your teenager to wear braces may take a little bit of work but it is certainly not as difficult today as it once was.

Parenting4Dummies.com provides a wealth of parenting advice on everything from single parenting to raising troubled teenagers. Article Source: http:// www.articlerich.com.

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22 Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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Joke s and R iddle s Q: Where do dogs hate going?

A: Flea markets.

Q: What is a cat’s favorite song?

A: “Three Blind Mice.”

When you think of a firehouse, the one animal that may come to mind is the spotted Dalmatian.

Dalmatians used to serve as carriage dogs for firehouses back when horses pulled fire engines. When a fire occurred, the Dalmatians would run in front of the horses, clearing the way and guiding the horses to the fire.

Dalmatians also helped find victims in burning buildings and guarded firehouses. They would keep thieves from stealing firefighting equipment and horses.

Although firehouses today no longer have horses, some still have Dalmatians as pets. The Dalmatian remains a symbol of the firehouse.

What Rhymes with Play?

List 10 words that rhyme with “play.”

1.

2.

5.

6.

3.

7.

9.

4.

8.

10.

•Name That Breed•

Each of the following is a popular cat or dog breed.

Fill in the blanks to name that breed.

1)

S __ A __ E S __

3)

__ A C H __ __ U __ D

2) 4) 5) 6) 7)

P E __ __ I __ N __ O __ E R M A __ __ E S __ I H

C __ __ N

T __ U

S _ O __ __ I S H

F __ __ D

Answers: 1) Siamese, 2) Persian, 3) Dachshund, 4) Boxer, 5) Maine coon, 6) Shih tzu, 7) Scottish fold

The Firehouse Dog

FACT OR FICTION?

Famed Cat & Dog Challenge

Some answers: bay, clay, day, fray, gray, hay, hey, may, pray, spray

COLORING PICTURE Throughout the years, there have been many films featuring pet cats and dogs. Here are some questions about those pets. How many can you answer correctly?

1) All of the Benji films feature a beagle named Benji. Fact or Fiction?

2) The Wizard of Oz features a dog named Toto. Fact or Fiction?

3) 101 Dalmatians features a family of Dalmatians led by Pumba and Perdita.

Fact or Fiction?

4) The Adventures of Milo & Otis features a pug named Milo and an orange tabby named Otis. Fact or Fiction?

5) Air Bud features a poodle named Buddy. Fact or Fiction?

6) The Shaggy Dog features a man who turns into a sheepdog.

Fact or Fiction?

7) Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey features a dog named Sassy and two cats named Chance and Shadow. Fact or Fiction?

8) Beethoven features a German shepherd named Beethoven.

Fact or Fiction?

9) Babe features a pig that was raised by collies. Fact or Fiction?

10) Stuart Little features a mouse named Stuart and a cat named Snowbell.

Fact or Fiction?

Answers: 1) Fiction, Benji is a mixed breed, 2) Fact, although L. Frank Baum never identified the br eed of Toto in the books the film was based on, many believe Toto was some type of terrier, 3) Fiction, Pongo and Perdita head the Dalmatian family, 4) Fiction, Milo is the orange tabby and Otis is the pug, 5) Fiction, Buddy is a golden retriever, 6) Fact, 7) Fiction, Sassy is the cat and Chance and Shadow are the dogs, 8) Fiction, Beethoven is a St. Bernard, 9) Fiction, Babe was raised by sheepdogs, 10) Fact , Snowbell dislikes Stuart and wants to get rid of him.

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Wichita Family | OCTOBER 2009

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